Useful Pages

Saturday, November 28, 2009

The Economisthas just released its annual predictions for the world in 2010 regarding Business, Finance, Science and more. The highlight of this yearly publication is its The world in figures: Countrieswhere the magazine predicts that the top growth % will take place in Qatar, China, and the Congo. Believe it or not, all of this is yours to read free on their website OR stop in the library and take a look at our copy! SH

Monday, November 23, 2009

The winner of the National Book Award for Fiction was announced last week. This year's winner was ColumMcCann for Let the Great World Spin. The setting of the book is 1974 in New York City and the lives of ten people intersect as Philippe Petit crosses between the Twin Towers on a tightrope.

According to its website, the mission of the National Book Awards is: "to celebrate the best of American literature, to expand its audience, and to enhance the cultural value of good writing in America. "

Everything closed for the holiday? You can still browse, check out, and download digital books from home 24/7 with Overdrive. You can even decide on your own lending period! Choose from historical, juvenile, literature, romance, biography, business and careers, health and fitness,and more! To try it out, go to www.wellesleyfreelibrary.org and click on the Overdrive icon. A valid Wellesley Free Library card is required.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Questions about the moral and ethical aspects of our food industry abound as we publish a plethora of books to help achieve a healthier and longer life. What is the hidden cost of cheap food? Is it possible to stem the growing tide of obesity in this country? Can we try to model our culture of food on that of other countries which have successfully shied away from processed food in favor of 'real' food? Does the pursuit of profit in the food industry take precedence over the health of the people and the environment? Is sustainable agriculture a real alternative to industrial agriculture?

We have books and films about these and other cutting edge topics here at the Wellesley Library. Click on the titles below to read reviews and find availability through our catalog.

Who, Where, and WhenAre YouAre you looking for answers to Life's Basic Questions? Are you undergoing a severe existential crisis? Have no fear; the Internet can help you! Want to know Who you are? Just dial Whoozy.Lost track of Where you are? Go to Bing and ask "Where am I?" And for those who just must know When, trudge on over to the Death Clock to find out exactly when you are expected to die (and watch the seconds tick, tick, tick away).I'm not making this up...--RL

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Choosing your next book has never been easier! Electronic book clubs are available from www.wellesleyfreelibrary.org. Simply enter your email address, choose your preferred book genres and every day, Monday through Friday, you will receive a selection from a chapter of a book in your email. Choose to receive Fiction, Business, Teen, Mystery and more-- there's something for everyone. Every Monday starts a new book. Sign up and start reading today!

Monday, November 9, 2009

This year's Nobel Prize for Literature was won by Herta Müller, a Romanian-born German novelist and poet. Born in 1953, Müller grew up in Romania as a member of the German-speaking minority there. She was able to emigrate to West Berlin with her husband in 1987 but much of her work concerns the oppressive culture in Romania under Nicolai Ceausescu.

We all know that movies such asSpider-Man, Batman, X-Men, and pretty much anything with "Man" in it are based on Comic Books (or Graphic Novels, in library terms.) But did you know that there are a number of other movies that are based on graphic novels?

Graphic novel-based movies range from the obvious (when you think about it) such as V for Vendetta, based on the graphic novel of the same name by Watchmen creator Alan Moore, to the completely unexpected, such as Road to Perdition, a Chicagoland gangster epic starring Tom Hanks. Other movies of this type include 300, Sin City, and The Spirit, all the brain-children of Frank Miller, acclaimed creator of a number ofBatman storylines. Fans of somewhat grittier material may want to check out From Hell, a story about Jack the Ripper, or 30 Days of Night, a grisly survival horror movie set in the Alaskan wilderness. Wanted, the recent film starring Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy, is based on a graphic novel of the same name, though the film differs radically from the graphic novel, so brace yourself. Even the recent and popular film I Am Legend, starring Will Smith is based on a graphic novel of the same name.

But wait! There's more, graphic novel-based movies aren't a 21st century phenomenon, they go back to films such as Swamp Thing(also based primarily on work by Alan Moore) and even the perrenial children's favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (based on a book by New Hampshire residents Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.) For more realistic fare, try Persepolis or American Splendor (based on the classic graphic novel by Harvey Pekar.)

All of the titles mentioned in this post are available at the library in either book or movie form, and the part of the duo we don't have can be ordered using the Minuteman Library Network's shared catalog, which encompasses more than 40 libraries, each having a large and diverse collection! AC

Our expanding graphic novel collection has moved to a new space in the library. It's busted the seams on the old book display table and moved to the shelves next to our Science Fiction & Fantasy collection. You'll find more space for great graphic novels to be displayed, reading guides and, coming soon, staff suggestions.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Did you know that you can use Playaways in your car? These innovative digital format self-playing audio books are an increasingly popular item at both Branches and the Main Library. Each Playaway has a universal headphone jack that can be used with most of the commonly available car adapters on the market, including cassette adapters and FM transmitters.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

The Best of 2009 lists have begun! November 2Publisher's Weekly announced its 100 Best of 2009 list and pared it down to the Top 10 Books of 2009. This way you may get a head start on your reading OR your holiday gifts.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Did you know that Wellesley Free Library Interlibrary Loan Department can obtain books, scores, microfilms of newspapers, CDs, DVDs, etc. from all over the country for Wellesley Free Library patrons and patrons from any library in the Massachusetts Metrowest Regional Library System?

What’s more, in most cases, the service is free. Last year we were able to get 8,845 items. We were charged for 650 of them which means over 92% of items were obtained at no charge.

Due to the state’s budget woes, we presently have to pass on charges to the patrons in those few cases where there are charges. If you want to obtain something via Interlibrary Loan, but do not want to pay any charges, just ask us to stop at free libraries.

What kinds of things are we able to get for free? his fall we obtained copies of maps of bicycle trails in all parts of Massachusetts from the Library of Congress. e borrowed September 1945 microfilm for the Oregonian newspaper and the Austin Statesman newspaper for patrons doing research on how the Nagasaki bombing was reported at the time.

If you want to borrow something not owned by Minuteman, contact the Reference Department (781-235-1610 x1117) to make your ILL request.